Numbers

1. Bir, iki, üç

   Bir, i-ki, üç

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic numbers essential for shopping and ordering

   Grammar Note

   Turkish numbers are regular and easy to learn. "bir" (1) also serves as the indefinite article "a/an" (bir elma = an apple).

2. Dört, beş, altı

   Dört, beş, al-tı

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Mid-range numbers used for time and dates

   Grammar Note

   "ö" and "ü" are pronounced like German umlauts (rounded lips). "ı" (undotted i) in "altı" is a back vowel pronounced with the tongue pulled back.

3. Yedi, sekiz, dokuz

   Ye-di, se-kiz, do-kuz

   Seven, eight, nine

   Usage

   Numbers 7-9, used for phone numbers and addresses

   Grammar Note

   Turkish numbers 1-9 are all independent words. When giving a phone number, each digit is read individually.

4. On, yirmi, otuz

   On, yir-mi, o-tuz

   Ten, twenty, thirty

   Usage

   Multiples of ten used for prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   Turkish compound numbers are very regular: "on bir" (11), "on iki" (12). Simply combine tens + units.

5. Kırk, elli, altmış

   Kırk, el-li, alt-mış

   Forty, fifty, sixty

   Usage

   Used for ages and time expressions

   Grammar Note

   "kırk" (40) and "elli" (50) have irregular forms. "altmış" (60) derives from "altı" (six) + "-mış".

6. Yetmiş, seksen, doksan

   Yet-miş, sek-sen, dok-san

   Seventy, eighty, ninety

   Usage

   Used for large amounts and years

   Grammar Note

   "yetmiş" (70) derives from "yedi" (7), "seksen" (80) from "sekiz" (8). Finding the roots makes them easier to memorize.

7. Yüz

   One hundred

   Usage

   Basic number for expressing prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   "yüz" is an interesting word meaning both "100" and "face". Multiples: "iki yüz" (200), "beş yüz" (500).

8. Bin

   One thousand

   Usage

   Turkish prices can be high, so thousand-unit expressions are frequently needed

   Grammar Note

   Used as "iki bin" (2000), "on bin" (10000). In Turkish Lira shopping, "bin lira" (one thousand lira) is frequently heard.

9. Sıfır

   Sı-fır

   Zero

   Usage

   Used in phone numbers, room numbers, and any number containing zero

   Grammar Note

   "sıfır" comes from Arabic "sifr" (empty), the same root as the English word "zero". Phone numbers read "0" as "sıfır".

10. Birinci, ikinci, üçüncü

    Bi-rin-ci, i-kin-ci, ü-çün-cü

    First, second, third

    Usage

    Used for order and floors (e.g., 2nd floor = ikinci kat)

    Grammar Note

    Ordinals are formed by adding "-inci/-ıncı/-üncü/-uncu" to cardinal numbers (vowel harmony applies). "ikinci kat" = second floor.

11. Yarım, çeyrek

    Ya-rım, çey-rek

    Half, quarter

    Usage

    Especially used for time expressions (e.g., yarım saat = 30 minutes)

    Grammar Note

    In time expressions: "saat birbuçuk" (1:30), "saat üçe çeyrek var" (quarter to three = 2:45).

12. Yirmi yedi yaşındayım

    Yir-mi ye-di ya-şın-da-yım

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer "Kaç yaşındasınız?" (how old are you?). Swap the number for any other age.

    Grammar Note

    "Yaş" (age) + third-person possessive "-ı" + locative "-nda" + first person "-yım" = "I am at that age". For 21-99 the ten and the unit are simply written side by side.

13. Bu yıl yirmi sekiz yaşında olacağım

    Bu yıl yir-mi se-kiz ya-şın-da o-la-ca-ğım

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Used in the year your age changes. "Yirmi sekiz yaşına gireceğim" (I will enter my 28th year) is an equally common alternative.

    Grammar Note

    The first-person singular future of "olmak" (to be / to become) is "olacağım". The future suffix "-acak/-ecek" softens to "-acağ-" before the personal ending.

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